I Hate That I Loved You!

21- Ignorant fools

At Bennetti Group:

Elevator dinged.

Zain and Francesco, two handsome italian men, clad in expensive suits and boots, walked out of the elevator door and walked along the open corridor towards their office.

Employees greeted them with a bow.

Entering the office, Francesco smiled with amusement.
His head was lowered and he was scrolling a media article page on his cellphone. Then, he spoke with admiration in his voice.

"Do you know there's this 3-year-old kid from the Springrock City, who won the comic art competition and the great master David Walt presented him with an award.
He also took him as his disciple. I heard that he is signing the kid to publish his drawings into his comic book. Damn, Kids these days are so talented."

Zain nodded in acknowledgment. "Indeed."

Francesco refreshed the screen again to reload the media article again to look for the picture of the boy. "I saw his picture on this media site but now it's removed."

Zain shrugged as he never pay much attention to all such additional news.

"Damn, looks likes all pictures are wiped out. This kid's parents seem to be very protective of him. But I am telling you that kid is very cute and he has the same eyes as yours. If you two will stand together, you both will appear as father and son. Tell me Bennetti do you have any illegitimate kid hidden somewhere?" Francesco joked with a glint of mischievousness in his eyes.

Zain rolled his eyes and responded with a irritated look on his face "Yea. Every green-eyed child will be my long-lost son or daughter. Is that what you mean? If yes, then no doubt kid is so talented."

After his not so funny comment, Zain sat on his office chair and opened then first file.

Francesco's face twitched.

He raised his eyebrows and looked at him with a "Get over yourself" expression.

He thought something for a while and then with a serious expression, he commented "Well I take back my words. I don't think your genes can produce such a cute and intelligent baby. It must be mine. huh."

Zain dint knew whether to laugh or cry at this big kid.
He threw a pen at him with a glare. "You are impossible!".

Francesco chuckled.

"Well, leave this. I have something important to tell you." Francesco put his cellphone back in suit pocket and occupy the opposite chair.

Zain's ear perked with interest.

"There's this exclusive hacking event named Hackathon BugHackX in two weeks from now. It is a private event where they invite all the expert hackers and groups from all over the world. This year's task is to take control of the most advanced malware affected system. The winning price is 10 million dollars." Francesco spoke excitedly.

"So? What your point?" Zain held his chin with one hand and with the other, he scrolled down the e-mail on Hackathon BugHackX forward by Francesco on his mobile.

"Let's visit. We can see experts over there. Although identities are hidden, I have some contacts with the Organizer Committee. Guess what! I came to know that people from some of the companies that have submitted proposals for our Project have also registered their skilled resources for this event."

"Many are experts on the Dark Web, we will never see past their expensive suits and shoes under normal circumstances. It will be fun. It's a one-day event." Francesco tried to convince iceberg like Zain.

"Interesting. But not interested. Anyhow they are going to submit proposals we can review that." Zain closed this cellphone and responded lazily.

"Don't be a bummer. You will see experts over there and I want to see who will win. That will help us in identifying the potentials of the companies indirectly based on how skilled their representatives are. It's a secretive private event so you won't be able to gather much info after the event ends. Every detail will be wiped out. Only winner info will be broadcasted in Dark Web. C'mon Fratello. It will be fun to see people in action. I want to go. You know I am myself an expert in this."

Zain ignores his expert friend self praising comment and shrugged
"Not interested."

In the afternoon, Zain and Francesco reviewed the list of the proposals submitted by companies.

"Strange. LRD security solutions and Grey Technosoft have not submitted their proposals." Zain murmured turning the pages of the file in his hand.

"Why?" Francesco asked.

"I don't know. I had a meeting with their COO and CFO sometime back. They appeared interested in collaboration. But they haven't sent their proposals." Zain re-verified the list of the proposal and dialed a number on his intercom.

"Assistant Han, Please come in."

"These are the ones with ghost CEOs'" Francesco commented.

Zain nodded in agreement.

At the same time, Assistant Han quickly rushed in
"Si Signor."

"Why LRD security solutions and Grey Technosoft have not sent their proposals?" Zain inquired.

Assistant Han gulped.
He had sent out an email invite to every selected prospect. These two companies were their first choice but they both haven't submitted their proposal and haven't even responded to his email after multiple follow ups.

LRD Security Solutions and Grey Technosoft both are fast-rising tech companies in the past 2 years. Both have mysterious ghost CEOs. Mysterious to the point that people don't even know their names.

"Boss, I have sent an invite to everyone. I have checked with my sources and I came to know that both of these companies are trying to collaborate with Pereira Corporation. They also have a big project coming up." Assistant Han gave quick report.

Although Pereira Corporation is a competitor of Bennetti Group, Bennetti Group has roots expanded in many other additional fields like Scientific research & development, Real Estates, and Hotels & Resorts. Partnering with Bennetti Group will give them more exposure and revenue.

Zain gritted his teeth.
"Such ignorant fools! Let them be. Let's go through this list and sort out some more potential prospects."

Zain and Francesco, along with Assistant Han, started going through the proposals.

All three of them were taking notes and their SWOT analysis details on their respective laptops.

It took them an hour to go through all the details and information.

"None of them are satisfying!" Francesco leaned back on his chair and rested his eyes closed.

Zain sighed. "You are right!"

Assistant Han nodded in agreement as well.

They were busy in the discussion, all of sudden something flickered on Zain's laptop.